Depends. I don't think dwights attitude is excused. It's been piss poor, but I believe his lack of effort can be. Have you ever played a sport? Giving 100% is easier when your 100%. Not everyone is Kobe and elevates themselves through injury. Wade, Lebron, and Dwight have all had their fair share of folding mentally and physically due to injury

Ron artest has his highest usage rate since Houston and his lowest assist percentage of his career. Oh and he has the 3rd highest usage rate on the team. Ahea of pau and nash which he has no business having. He's disruptive that stats match up with what I'm seeing. He thinks he's a point forward taking the ball out of Kobe and Nash's hands far too often, he's second on the team in FG attempts. To say he's not disruptive is to ignore that facts.

Artest isn't fitting into a role which is what he should be. He's a role player but statistically he's trying to play like a core player. It's disruptive

And defensively I don't think we need to discuss how Beasley had his best games of the season against the lakers, Lebron torched him, Kevin Durant ripped him up, Nicolas batum 2 out of 3 meetings, Paul pierce got him both times, and Anthony torched him.

You may say well these are stars. Well each one of them exceeded their season production. Most of them by large amounts and much higher efficiency.

I pointed out exactly what Howard is and has done last year when everyone was blinded by some dunks, a cape and a phone booth. Now he's our problem and doing those same things and MWP is the problem?

Interesting that you pick on the player that is least like Dwight in his approach to the team and game to single out.

As for what I've done without your revisionist history.... I said on numerous occasions that getting Howard straight up was something we should do....... You, along with quite a few others were wanting to trade Pau AND Bynum for him. I have never defended Bynum's antics..... I didn't act like a jilted teenage girl like a lot here....... Maybe my reasonable reaction confused you.

Putting words in my mouth. I don't remember ever saying pau and Bynum for Dwight. I may have but I doubt it. I like pau. And unlike artest even though pau complains he still moves the ball.

Allen iverson gave 100% every game, doesn't change the fact that he was a black hole. Effort is not the only indicator of playing a team game. It only determines one thing. Effort.

Again I was one of the few who defended Bynum last season and I remember all of your arguments. It's ridiculous that you act like you only support hustle when last season you were after people questioning Bynum when he gave poor effort. Either you're hypocritical or you pick and choose who you want to defend and who you want to detract

Dwight Howard said that his conditioning has lost the Lakers "a lot of games" this year."Unfortunately it cost us a lot of games," Howard said. "The better shape I'm in, the more I'm able to do. But it was a struggle at first because I just didn't have it in the tank." Comments like these aren't going to endear himself to the Lakers fans and it's tough to hear he's not giving it his all considering he's in a contract year. Howard did show some signs of pain in his right shoulder on Friday and he'll likely have to deal with the injury all year.

Actually, it's the first thing I've heard where it sounds like he's being honest, taking responsibility, and showing that he gives a flying F about this team. It's the first time I feel myself warming to him. Moreover, it DID NOT sound at all like he was saying he didn't give his all.

I pointed out exactly what Howard is and has done last year when everyone was blinded by some dunks, a cape and a phone booth. Now he's our problem and doing those same things and MWP is the problem?

Interesting that you pick on the player that is least like Dwight in his approach to the team and game to single out.

As for what I've done without your revisionist history.... I said on numerous occasions that getting Howard straight up was something we should do....... You, along with quite a few others were wanting to trade Pau AND Bynum for him. I have never defended Bynum's antics..... I didn't act like a jilted teenage girl like a lot here....... Maybe my reasonable reaction confused you.

Putting words in my mouth. I don't remember ever saying pau and Bynum for Dwight. I may have but I doubt it. I like pau. And unlike artest even though pau complains he still moves the ball.

Allen iverson gave 100% every game, doesn't change the fact that he was a black hole. Effort is not the only indicator of playing a team game. It only determines one thing. Effort.

Again I was one of the few who defended Bynum last season and I remember all of your arguments. It's ridiculous that you act like you only support hustle when last season you were after people questioning Bynum when he gave poor effort. Either you're hypocritical or you pick and choose who you want to defend and who you want to detract

My gripes with Howard have been consistent from the beginning of the whole Bynum vs Howard thing. I warned that you should be careful what you wish for. Bynum had his issues but they were centered on different things than Howard's. Howard is acting no different here than he did in Orlando. His recent string of "saying what everyone wants to hear" is nothing new either. He would do it all the time in Orlando only to go back to his true feeling at the first sign of adversity.

The Iverson shot is interesting.... Iverson led his teams in scoring AND assists most every year I believe. So how did he not "share"? Howard has played largely on teams designed down to the water boy to open the middle and get him the ball where he can dunk it because of what happens when he doesn't. Shooters, perimeter defenders and guards that were all there specifically for his support. It still wasn't enough to keep him from throwing everyone under the bus and pouting for two years until he was traded....

Those are the facts of this guy. He's also a fantastic player in the right conditions but he's not ever been the guy to instill a sense of confidence in his teammates as someone that can be counted on in adverse situations.

I truly hope he's turning some corner and he will be the player worthy of our only "Max slot" in a couple years. I had my doubts before he came here and I've seen or heard nothing that changes my mind yet. Words are one thing.... consistent action is another. Let's see if he's showing stat sheets to the press the next time he gets less than 8 shots.....

He's played well in the last two..... against a fossil PF and a journeyman PF. His missed free throws nearly cost us last night and I'll bet over the season we've lost 4 or 5 because of his poor free throw shooting..... in typical Howard fashion.... remember his 2 week long promise to get better at free throw shooting? It's long gone and he hopes forgotten along with all the other "right things" he says when it's expedient. How about don't say it...... just do it....... and tell us how you did it after...

As for the injury and being in condition. Ruptured Disk surgeries result in permanent issues.... I'm sure he's lost some range of motion and the ability to lift like he did before. Having played with guys in college that had similar issues it drastically changed how they trained for Football and I'm sure it's the same for him. The not being in shape stuff hard to believe IMO. He's been playing full contact Basketball since October..... you're telling me a 27 year old elite athlete can't get in game shape in 4 months?....

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trodgers wrote:Some people don't get it. E.g., the people at Rotoworld:

Dwight Howard said that his conditioning has lost the Lakers "a lot of games" this year."Unfortunately it cost us a lot of games," Howard said. "The better shape I'm in, the more I'm able to do. But it was a struggle at first because I just didn't have it in the tank." Comments like these aren't going to endear himself to the Lakers fans and it's tough to hear he's not giving it his all considering he's in a contract year. Howard did show some signs of pain in his right shoulder on Friday and he'll likely have to deal with the injury all year.

Actually, it's the first thing I've heard where it sounds like he's being honest, taking responsibility, and showing that he gives a flying F about this team. It's the first time I feel myself warming to him. Moreover, it DID NOT sound at all like he was saying he didn't give his all.

Yeah.. Dwight owning up to his personal shortcomings & sounding like he wants to do more for the team is music to my ears..

I pointed out exactly what Howard is and has done last year when everyone was blinded by some dunks, a cape and a phone booth. Now he's our problem and doing those same things and MWP is the problem?

Interesting that you pick on the player that is least like Dwight in his approach to the team and game to single out.

As for what I've done without your revisionist history.... I said on numerous occasions that getting Howard straight up was something we should do....... You, along with quite a few others were wanting to trade Pau AND Bynum for him. I have never defended Bynum's antics..... I didn't act like a jilted teenage girl like a lot here....... Maybe my reasonable reaction confused you.

Putting words in my mouth. I don't remember ever saying pau and Bynum for Dwight. I may have but I doubt it. I like pau. And unlike artest even though pau complains he still moves the ball.

Allen iverson gave 100% every game, doesn't change the fact that he was a black hole. Effort is not the only indicator of playing a team game. It only determines one thing. Effort.

Again I was one of the few who defended Bynum last season and I remember all of your arguments. It's ridiculous that you act like you only support hustle when last season you were after people questioning Bynum when he gave poor effort. Either you're hypocritical or you pick and choose who you want to defend and who you want to detract

My gripes with Howard have been consistent from the beginning of the whole Bynum vs Howard thing. I warned that you should be careful what you wish for. Bynum had his issues but they were centered on different things than Howard's. Howard is acting no different here than he did in Orlando. His recent string of "saying what everyone wants to hear" is nothing new either. He would do it all the time in Orlando only to go back to his true feeling at the first sign of adversity.

The Iverson shot is interesting.... Iverson led his teams in scoring AND assists most every year I believe. So how did he not "share"? Howard has played largely on teams designed down to the water boy to open the middle and get him the ball where he can dunk it because of what happens when he doesn't. Shooters, perimeter defenders and guards that were all there specifically for his support. It still wasn't enough to keep him from throwing everyone under the bus and pouting for two years until he was traded....

Those are the facts of this guy. He's also a fantastic player in the right conditions but he's not ever been the guy to instill a sense of confidence in his teammates as someone that can be counted on in adverse situations.

I truly hope he's turning some corner and he will be the player worthy of our only "Max slot" in a couple years. I had my doubts before he came here and I've seen or heard nothing that changes my mind yet. Words are one thing.... consistent action is another. Let's see if he's showing stat sheets to the press the next time he gets less than 8 shots.....

He's played well in the last two..... against a fossil PF and a journeyman PF. His missed free throws nearly cost us last night and I'll bet over the season we've lost 4 or 5 because of his poor free throw shooting..... in typical Howard fashion.... remember his 2 week long promise to get better at free throw shooting? It's long gone and he hopes forgotten along with all the other "right things" he says when it's expedient. How about don't say it...... just do it....... and tell us how you did it after...

As for the injury and being in condition. Ruptured Disk surgeries result in permanent issues.... I'm sure he's lost some range of motion and the ability to lift like he did before. Having played with guys in college that had similar issues it drastically changed how they trained for Football and I'm sure it's the same for him. The not being in shape stuff hard to believe IMO. He's been playing full contact Basketball since October..... you're telling me a 27 year old elite athlete can't get in game shape in 4 months?....

Yes. You have to be 39 like Nash sitting with a busted leg, no running, for over a month and a half and come back. Then it takes about 3 games. Check that....maybe 1 game since he played well over 30 minutes the first night.

The elephant in the room like Roos and others have said is he may never be able to "lift" the amount of weight and do the intense weight work he used to do before the surgery. No doubt after a full summer doing what he "can" do now he should be stronger at the start of next season. Still don't understand the "winded" thing as mentioned above, this many games in for an elite 27 year old athlete that has always been able to run well.

LTLakerFan wrote:The elephant in the room like Roos and others have said is he may never be able to "lift" the amount of weight and do the intense weight work he used to do before the surgery. No doubt after a full summer doing what he "can" do now he should be stronger at the start of next season. Still don't understand the "winded" thing as mentioned above, this many games in for an elite 27 year old athlete that has always been able to run well.

Nash was out 2 months and is 170lbs

Howard was out 6 months before he could even run, another month of just jogging and low intensity running. And his body has to work much harder to pump oxygen as he is bigger.

The situations couldn't be more different

That's like saying why isn't Derrick rose playing deron Williams is. One tore his acl the othe sprained his ankle

trodgers wrote:Some people don't get it. E.g., the people at Rotoworld:

Dwight Howard said that his conditioning has lost the Lakers "a lot of games" this year."Unfortunately it cost us a lot of games," Howard said. "The better shape I'm in, the more I'm able to do. But it was a struggle at first because I just didn't have it in the tank." Comments like these aren't going to endear himself to the Lakers fans and it's tough to hear he's not giving it his all considering he's in a contract year. Howard did show some signs of pain in his right shoulder on Friday and he'll likely have to deal with the injury all year.

Actually, it's the first thing I've heard where it sounds like he's being honest, taking responsibility, and showing that he gives a flying F about this team. It's the first time I feel myself warming to him. Moreover, it DID NOT sound at all like he was saying he didn't give his all.